Meng Ting hugged Yan Sui even tighter as he spoke, “Will you believe me?”
“Yes,” Yan Sui replied, tilting his head to kiss the tip of Meng Ting’s ear. A gust of wind blew by, and he opened his coat to wrap it around Meng Ting a little more, asking with some concern, “Do you feel cold?”
Meng Ting squinted his eyes upon hearing this, his toes slightly lifting. His lips brushed against Yan Sui’s in a gentle kiss before he answered seriously, “With you holding me, I don’t feel cold at all.” He felt very warm, both physically and emotionally.
He always felt this way when he was with Yan Sui, and he loved this feeling.
Yan Sui looked at Meng Ting’s smiling face and couldn’t help but lower his head to kiss his lips. His coat continued to wrap around Meng Ting as they lingered by the flower bushes and under the maple tree, kissing each other passionately, as if they could kiss until the end of time.
***
Xiao Zi’ang arrived in Haicheng at five in the afternoon but didn’t rush to find Yan Sui immediately. He and Xiao Zimo discussed the matter for a while, and in the end, it was Xiao Zi’ang, as the eldest grandson of the Xiao family, who called Wang Feng to arrange a meeting with Yan Sui for the next morning.
The location wasn’t at the Yan residence or the Yan Corporation building, but at the teahouse where Yan Sui had once met Meng Qi.
When Yan Sui got out of the car, the two brothers, Xiao Zi’ang and Xiao Zimo, who had been waiting for a long time, approached him. They couldn’t help but glance into the car, but they quickly thought about it—how could Yan Sui possibly let them see Meng Ting right now?
“Let’s talk inside…” Yan Sui wasn’t surprised by their reaction. After speaking, he walked inside.
Xiao Zi’ang and Xiao Zimo exchanged a glance and followed Yan Sui. The teahouse was located in a relatively secluded area with little foot or vehicle traffic. If Yan Sui were to decide the location for a conversation, he would most likely choose this place.
Of course, it was also because most of the people he dealt with were family patriarchs over fifty years old.
At their age, they have started to pay attention to health and wellness, and Yan Sui also didn’t like overly noisy places. The teahouse suited their needs perfectly.
However, for Xiao Zi’ang and Xiao Zimo, it still felt somewhat surprising. Like Meng Qi, who had visited before, they found it intriguing that Yan Sui, despite not being particularly old, had such old-fashioned preferences.
Of course, there were young people in Xia Country who enjoyed brewing tea, but they were obviously quite rare among the elite circles.
Yan Sui personally brewed the tea, his movements fluid and graceful. Even though he didn’t pay much attention to Xiao Zi’ang and Xiao Zimo, they didn’t feel neglected either. In fact, watching his actions seemed to calm their minds.
“Have some tea,” Yan Sui said as he placed two cups of tea in front of Xiao Zi’ang and Xiao Zimo. He poured himself a cup as well and took a small sip.
With a wave of his hand, the attendant in the tea room nodded slightly and left, leaving only the three of them in the room.
“How is Meng Ting’s injury? Is it still very serious?”
Xiao Zimo asked after merely smelling the tea’s aroma and setting it down. Compared to the concerns of Xiao Zi’ang and Yan Sui, Xiao Zimo was more worried about Meng Ting’s health. In fact, he wanted to tell Yan Sui that if Haicheng couldn’t provide adequate treatment, they could take Meng Ting back to Beicheng, where they would ensure he received the best medical care.
Yan Sui glanced at Xiao Zimo, set his teacup down, but didn’t answer Xiao Zimo’s question. Instead, he turned to Xiao Zi’ang, not intending to engage in too much polite talk. “Have you figured out what happened seventeen years ago?”
Xiao Zi’ang carefully considered his words before responding, “We’re still investigating. No matter who’s involved, my father and I won’t let them go.” It was highly likely that there was a traitor within their own family, and this traitor had yet to be exposed.
This was not only a concern for Yan Sui but also for them.
“Meng Ting… he should be called Xiao Zinuo. He’s a child of the Xiao family, Zimo and my younger brother. If possible, we’d like to meet him.”
Documents were one thing, and deductions were another. After meeting the person, the necessary checks were still unavoidable. Mixing bloodlines was a major taboo in various families. Although he guessed that saying this might displease Yan Sui, he still had to say it.
Yan Sui narrowed his eyes and responded to Xiao Zi’ang, “We can do the checks, but they must be done here in Haicheng. You and him can’t do it; the patriarch of the Xiao family must come personally.” Yan Sui naturally understood the underlying meaning in Xiao Zi’ang’s words about ‘meeting’, and there was no need for him to elaborate further.
Yan Sui added, “If you don’t trust the doctors or hospitals in Haicheng, you can bring your own doctors and equipment, but Meng Ting absolutely cannot leave with you.”
Yan Sui didn’t deliberately emphasize his tone, but under his gaze, both Xiao Zi’ang and Xiao Zimo felt a slight pressure that made them uncomfortable. It could be said that they had never experienced such an overwhelming aura from their peers in Beicheng.
“Both Zimo and I believe that Meng Ting is our younger brother. The checks need to be done, but it’s just a formality. He is a child of the Xiao family and must recognize his ancestry…”
The checks could be done in Haicheng, and Xiao Zi’ang could make that decision. Their father would arrive in a day or two. However, the implication in Yan Sui’s final words was clear: not only would they not be allowed to take Meng Ting back to Beicheng for the checks, but even if it was confirmed that Meng Ting was their younger brother, Yan Sui would not allow them to take him back to Beicheng.
“What do you mean by ‘must’?” Yan Sui asked softly, his brow slightly furrowed. Having grown up in the environment of wealthy families, he should have been able to understand and adapt to Xiao Zi’ang’s words, but when it came to Meng Ting, he still felt a bit displeased.
“If Meng Ting is willing, I won’t stop him, but if he is unwilling, no one can force him.”
This also includes Yan Sui himself. The reason he came here to meet Xiao Zi’ang and Xiao Zimo was not because he was truly happy to let the Xiao family interact with Meng Ting, but rather because he didn’t want Meng Ting to have any regrets in his life.
He hoped Meng Ting could reclaim what he deserved. He always believed that Meng Ting deserved the best.
Of course, he thought this way and said it, but even if the Xiao family and the Xiao family members actions satisfied him, the most he could do was not prevent them from interacting with Meng Ting. Allowing them to take Meng Ting away was absolutely out of the question.
“You’re right, no one can force Nuo Nuo.”
Xiao Zimo glanced at Xiao Zi’ang, also somewhat dissatisfied with his words. How could the rhetoric he used on the negotiation table with outsiders be applied to their Nuo Nuo? They had been absent from Meng Ting’s life for so many years and had no right to force him into anything, even if Meng Ting didn’t acknowledge them.
“Then how is his health now?” Xiao Zimo immediately asked Yan Sui again. The video in the elevator had frightened him, and now he was most concerned about Meng Ting’s recovery.
Yan Sui looked at Xiao Zimo, finding him somewhat more agreeable than Xiao Zi’ang. He nodded slightly, “He’s almost recovered, but he still needs a few more days of rest.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Zimo anxiously rubbed his hands together and looked at Yan Sui with even more pleading eyes, “Can I go see him? If you’re concerned, I won’t say much, just take a quick look.” He wanted to confirm whether Meng Ting’s health had truly improved.
Xiao Zi’ang also looked over. After a moment of consideration, he decided not to say anything more. It was clear that his usual approach was less effective in front of Yan Sui compared to Xiao Zimo’s straightforwardness. After a short while, Yan Sui finally nodded.
However, Yan Sui didn’t immediately take them home; he only allowed them to come over in the afternoon or the next day.
The conversation seemed to be coming to an end here. Yan Sui nodded at them and prepared to leave first.
But before he could stand up, his phone vibrated in his pocket. Xiao Zimo and Xiao Zi’ang, who were also about to leave, glanced over with a hint of anticipation. And indeed, their anticipation was met.
Yan Sui had informed Meng Ting before he left. After playing with Dahuang and Maoqiu for a while, Meng Ting also felt bored. Returning to his room, he thought for a moment and then made this call to Yan Sui.
“Can I ask Uncle Xiao to send someone to take me to the lab?” Meng Ting said, with Maoqiu responding in the background. He lowered his head to pat Maoqiu’s head before continuing, “I just want to go and take a look, and answer a few questions from Shishi and the others.”
This was the first time Meng Ting lied to Yan Sui, and his cheeks were already slightly flushed with discomfort. But over the phone, Yan Sui couldn’t notice.
Yan Sui glanced at his watch, “How long will you be there?”
“About two or three hours,” Meng Ting relaxed a bit and spoke in a more serious tone, “I promise, I’ll behave, won’t mess around, won’t get hurt, I promise, I promise.”
Yan Sui could almost imagine Meng Ting earnestly raising his hand to make a promise on the other end of the line. A hint of a smile appeared in his eyes, and after a brief consideration, he agreed, “I’ll come pick you up in three hours.”
“Mm,” Meng Ting’s voice was filled with joy. Successfully lying for the first time, he felt a mix of guilt and also an inexplicable sense of accomplishment. “Yan Sui, you’re so good.”
“Mm,” Yan Sui responded, then gave Meng Ting a few more reminders before hanging up. On the other side, Xiao Zi’ang and Xiao Zimo both felt a slight ache in their teeth. Without a doubt, the one who could cause such a change in Yan Sui’s tone and demeanor had to be Meng Ting.
And it seemed that the relationship between Yan Sui and Meng Ting was much better than what the rumors and records suggested… They looked at Yan Sui with envy and jealousy, even more eager to meet Meng Ting as soon as possible.
***
On the other end, Meng Ting hung up the phone with a sweet smile. He changed his clothes, then carried Maoqiu downstairs. After entrusting Maoqiu and Dahuang to He Yue, he got into the car arranged by Uncle Xiao and headed to the lab.
Actually, the reason he insisted on coming was because Li Shishi had told him yesterday that the batch of raw materials they had imported from abroad had arrived, and perhaps among them was the last auxiliary ingredient Meng Ting had been searching for.
With Yan Sui’s birthday approaching, and having been recuperating at home for so many days due to his injury, Meng Ting couldn’t afford to delay any longer.
After Yan Sui left, Meng Ting, with time to think, naturally couldn’t stay idle at home.
But if he told Yan Sui he was going to make perfume, he definitely wouldn’t be allowed. Meng Ting, who had always been honest, lied. It was also because he had always been too honest that Yan Sui actually didn’t even notice that he lied once in a while.
Of course, this was just Meng Ting’s subjective feeling.
[dropdown title=”List of Idiom in Chapter 073.1″]
地老天荒 (dì lǎo tiān huāng): a very long time; eternal; everlasting; forever; until the world ends; until the end of the earth. Alternative form of 天荒地老 (tiān huāng dì lǎo), end of time; all eternity; until the end of time (idiom); everlasting; eternal; till the end of the world; forever and ever; the sky is desolate and the earth is old. It refers to a very long time. It is often used in people’s declaration of love.原形畢露 (yuán xíng bì lù): to reveal one’s true colors; original identity fully revealed (idiom); fig. to unmask and expose the whole truth; be revealed for what one is; one’s true colors are completely exposed, meaning that the disguise has been completely revealed.
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